What to Do If You Get Pulled Over by the Police in Thailand: A Practical Guide

First, let's acknowledge that a large portion of the expat population in Thailand has, in my opinion, an unwarranted fear of the Thai police. This fear largely stems from shows like Locked Up Abroad that many foreigners have watched, filling their minds with worst-case scenarios and putting the fear of God into them. These dramatized portrayals often paint a picture of harsh and unforgiving consequences for any interaction with law enforcement, leaving many expats anxious about even the most routine encounters.

However, the reality on the ground is often far more nuanced and manageable. Like any other country, Thailand has its own laws and law enforcement culture, but being aware of how to handle yourself when dealing with the police can make a huge difference in the outcome of any situation. Thailand is known for its culture of politeness and respect, and this is something that carries through in many interactions with the police as well.

In this post, we’ll cover some real-life stories and practical advice on how to act if you find yourself being pulled over by the Thai police. From traffic stops to routine checks, understanding how to approach these situations calmly and respectfully can make a world of difference in how the situation unfolds.

Motorcycle Infractions 

Take, for example, a man named Simon. Simon has been living in Thailand long term, but he often forgets to wear his motorcycle helmet. On top of that, he hasn't applied for the correct license for his motorcycle—something that just keeps slipping his mind. Because of this, Simon routinely gets pulled over by a police officer in the city where he lives.

Now, Simon has two choices once the officer finds these infractions. One way or another, a penalty is going to need to be paid. In one scenario, the officer issues a ticket and directs Simon to the police station to pay the fine. Sometimes, the officer will even hold onto the motorcycle until the fine is settled. Simon finds this incredibly troublesome. The idea of going to the police station and waiting around for hours on end among all sorts of undesirables is simply too much to handle.

After years of experience in these situations, Simon has developed a strategy. He assesses the officer, making a rough gauge of his age, and then addresses him as "younger brother," "older brother," "uncle," or some other respectful, family-related term. He then politely asks, "Sorry, I’m in a real rush—any way you could help me?"

In this scenario, Simon acknowledges that a payment is inevitable, but he’s hoping to avoid the hassle of going to the station and the potential sweaty walk or ride there without his motorcycle. If Simon is successful, the officer—his new "family member" of sorts—may be willing to accept the going rate for the fine in cash on the spot. Afterward, the officer fills out the paperwork and submits the fine, saving Simon from all the inconvenience.

Now, let’s take Peter as a counterexample. Peter is much more careful than Simon when it comes to following the rules, but even he gets pulled over for an infraction now and then. What sets Peter apart is that he’s bought into a variety of unfounded conspiracy theories. He believes that if you pay the officer on the spot, the officer pockets the money and never files the necessary paperwork at the end of his shift. It’s a completely baseless claim that Peter repeats often, without a shred of evidence to back it up.

The thing is, Thais are generally quite adept at reading body language, and they can easily pick up on Peter’s distrustful attitude. As a result, Peter always finds himself directed to the police station to pay the fine, spending hours sweating in a room full of undesirables, instead of quickly resolving the issue on the spot.

Clearly, there is a significant difference in outcomes between Peter and Simon. It's important to consider the cultural context here. Peter is stuck in a mindset of worst-case scenarios, willing to spend hours of his own time to avoid what he perceives as corruption. Meanwhile, Simon sees no reason to believe the police officer is pocketing the money, and he carries on with his day without a second thought, confident that his fine has been handled. While Simon enjoys a nice bowl of noodles, Peter is left sweating in the police station, waiting to pay his fine.

At some point, one must make a conscious choice: to be like Peter, wary and mistrusting, or like Simon, pragmatic and at ease with the system.

Breathalyzer Test

Ok so another pretty common interaction with the Thai police in the event of driving a vehicle is the breathalyzer test. OK so first of all it is always a mistake to drink and drive anywhere in the world, maybe more so in Thailand were the roads can be quite dangerous for motorcycle drivers. It is also worth mentioning that the penalty for being caught drink driving often involves a night in a prison cell, which can be 3 nights in the event it is a Friday and court isn't open until Monday. 

Let's take a real life example of how a chap called Matt handled a situation that could have went very wrong indeed. 

After a long day at the library getting caught up with some reading, Matt jumps on his scooter and makes his way back to his Thai girlfriend, it is getting late and he is already 15 mins past the time he said he would be back. As he turns the corner going on to the main road which leads to his apartment, he notices a large road block and perhaps 10 Thai police officers checking documents and performing breathalyzer tests on motorists. Matt remembers reading the following article and fear suddenly starts to grip him since he rather does enjoy the occasional energy drink, and the fact that they may cause a false positive starts to really make him panic, he thinks of turning tail and making his way backwards, but way too late now, the only way is onwards through the roadblock.

Matt takes a moment to compose himself, though his composure is almost entirely shattered when he catches sight of a paddy wagon filled with people who have failed the test. He instantly recognizes the type: men in tank tops emblazoned with beer logos, their expressions a mix of anger and frustration. It’s clear that this anger will soon turn to despair once they realize they’re headed for a few nights in a holding cell. Matt thinks to himself that he will do literally anything to avoid sharing an enclosed space with these sorts, he tries to stop the mental images of watching them take a dump in the cell, but the force is too strong, instead he must plan to avoid it at all costs. 

As Matt steels himself in the knowledge that he speaks the local language and is comparatively well dressed to the ruffians that have went before him, the queue begins to shorten as Matt is pushed further and further up towards the officer. When it comes to Matt's turn he takes a look at the officer and gives him a big smile, he gauges that the officer is slightly younger than his father and such addresses him as uncle. Now, Matt makes his move before the actual test, after disarming the officer with his charming smile and ability in the local language he says to the officer "My girlfriend is waiting for me, I don't want to blow, I have been in this situation before and I paid x amount" , here Matt recalls a glimmer his new uncle's eye, perhaps in recognition as to how unreasonable Thai females can be in such scenarios. 

Matt’s new "uncle" then calls over another officer—a younger-looking chap in plain clothes—explaining, "This one doesn’t want to blow, says he’s paid X amount before." Understanding the local language, Matt sees an opportunity to interject. He adds to the officer’s statement, mentioning that his girlfriend is waiting, and it simply wouldn’t do to keep her waiting much longer.

With that, the younger officer has the same look of recognition, knowing full well the importance of returning home at the time you’ve promised your Thai girlfriend. And just like that, things end well for Matt. He avoids the risk of a false positive on the breath test and drives off to meet his sweetheart.

Not to embellish Matt’s story, but knowing him, I strongly suspect there was a trace of a smile as he glanced at the paddy wagon full of ruffians on his way home.

General Strategy

Ok after reading the specifics of the stories above, we can come up with some general rules to follow in the event you are pulled over. 

• Always remain perfectly calm and friendly. 
• The best way to present yourself, is moderately friendly with a smile as if you have been in this situation many times before. 
• If you need something or would like the officer to make an on-the-spot modification of the rules, such a request should be communicated in a manner that is requesting help and under no circumstances could be interpreted as offering a bribe.